Born in Dublin, Luke the Laker grew up on Lower Baggot Street, just down the way from Catherine McAuley’s first House of Mercy. Luke bleeds green and blue and is ready to cheer on our student-athletes and do all he can in support of Mercyhurst pride.

Strategic Initiatives

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Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, on a hill overlooking Lake Erie, our 75-acre Main Campus is known as one of the most beautiful in the region. Elements of English Gothic architecture are carried throughout our Old Main, academic buildings and student residence halls.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Michael T. Victor is the 12th president of Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, assuming the role on Aug. 1, 2015.

President Victor served as dean of Mercyhurst’s Walker School of Business from 2002 to 2006 before accepting the presidency of Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, a position he held for nine years until returning to Mercyhurst.

As Mercyhurst president he has demonstrated transformative leadership, bringing in a record freshman class for 2016 and overseeing a record year in fundraising. He is also largely responsible for changes across the administrative and academic operations at Mercyhurst geared toward increasing efficiency and making the university more nimble in responding to student and market needs.

While strengthening the university’s traditions and staying true to its Mercy mission, he has launched high-demand programs like cyber security, risk management and data science and his administration has been at the helm of the Erie Innovation District, an initiative designed to transform downtown Erie into a hub for family-sustaining jobs in today’s digital economy.

Physically, he has led the complete renovation of the student dining hall, a significant upgrade to the Mercyhurst Ice Center, and construction of new cyber security lab facilities, an Irish pub, and the $25 million sophomore residence, Ryan Hall. In 2019, he announced the $9.5 million Laker for Life: Campaign for Mercyhurst Athletics, intended to fund a comprehensive upgrade to the university’s athletics infrastructure.

Besides his impact on higher education, Dr. Victor is widely respected as a civic and business leader, attorney and entrepreneur. He holds a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe and a juris doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh. He began his professional career as an attorney in the corporate law department of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton in Erie. From 1988-2000 he was co-owner and CEO of Pyramid Industries in Erie.

Born in Ridgway, he has lived in Erie most of his life. A noted civic leader in northwestern Pennsylvania, Victor is co-chair of The Victor Group and holds membership in the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, Rotary Club of Erie and United Way.